Currently ranked as the 46th largest country in the world, Madagascar is the second largest island nation and the fourth largest island globally. 87,100 foreign visitors arrived there in 2020, according to World Bank data gathered in July 2024.
Madagascar had a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 14,954,967,604 as of 2022. USD 12,238,318,932 was the real GDP (constant, adjusted for inflation). With a GDP growth rate of 3.80% in 2022, the real GDP increased by $491,532,088 compared to 2021, when it was USD 12,947,986,306.
Citizens of the 24 following countries can visit Madagascar with Visa-Free Policy:
- Angola
- Barbados
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Cook Islands
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Gambia
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Malaysia
- Micronesia
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Philippines
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Eswatini
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
Interesting information about Madagascar
- Madagascar is home to a sizable share of the world’s unique species, found nowhere else.
- In Madagascar, lemurs have a sacred significance.
- Madagascar maintains strong legal safeguards for human rights.
- Pirates loved Madagascar as a sanctuary.
Madagascar’s airports
Antananarivo (TNR): The largest and busiest airport in Madagascar, Ivato Airport serves the majority of foreign flights. It is situated in the capital. It opened its doors in 2021 and is equipped with contemporary conveniences such as luggage conveyors, escalators, screening devices, and check-in counters. Only domestic flights are now operated out of the former airport.
Diego Suarez, DIE) / Antsiranana: Arrachart Airport, named for a French aviator in WWII, features a small fan area and waiting areas.
Sambava (SVB): The unnamed small airport in the capital of Vanilla has a wooden trestle as its final destination for baggage and can only handle an ATR. The runway has sustained damage from floods and cyclones.
Maroantsetra (WMN): Known as the “Aerodrome,” this little airport features a single hall and a rough runway. The facilities are simple, with handwritten flight tickets and a chalkboard for flight information. Twin Otters have trouble landing.
Toamasina (Tamatave, TMM): The largest port city in Madagascar, Ambalamanasy Airport, features a modest kiosk, fan-equipped bus shelters, and computerised scoreboards that continue to show sample texts.
List of Airline Companies in Madagascar
The primary airport servicing Antananarivo, Madagascar, is Ivato International Airport (IATA: TNR, ICAO: FMMI), located 16.9 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of the city centre. After a new 17,500 square metre terminal opened in 2021, roughly doubling its capacity from 850,000 passengers in 2016, it now accommodates over 1.5 million passengers a year.
The northern coastal city of Antsiranana (Diego Suarez, DIE) in Madagascar is renowned for its picturesque surroundings and magnificent natural harbour. The city is served by Arrachart Airport, which provides necessary links and fundamental facilities to sustain the regional travel and tourism sector.
The national airline, Madagascar Airlines (previously Air Madagascar), operates a range of internal and international routes, including those to France and Reunion Island. Additionally, it runs Tsaradia
Best Hotels to stay at Madagascar
- Radisson Blu Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront
- Eden Lodge
- Royal Andilana Resort & Spa
- Le Grand Bleu
- Allamanda Hotel
Tourist hotspots in Madagascar
- Lokobe Nature Special Reserve
- Avenue of the Baobabs
- Isalo National Park
- Lemurs’ Park
Madagascar is a distinctive tourism destination because of its exceptional biodiversity and rich cultural legacy. The island’s dedication to improving the visitor experience is demonstrated by its recent infrastructural upgrades, which include the development of Ivato International Airport. Madagascar provides a wide variety of lodging options, including boutique hotels and opulent resorts, to suit the needs of any kind of tourist. Its breathtaking natural beauty and friendly, inviting people combine to make it a unique and unforgettable place.
